USC Trojans vs Ohio State Buckeyes

This NCAAB matchup features USC Trojans (18-7 (9-3)) traveling to take on Ohio State Buckeyes (16-8 (11-3)) at Value City Arena, Columbus, OH. These two teams are closely matched, with both squads posting similar scoring differentials this season. This projects as a competitive contest that could go either way. On offense, Ohio State averages 78.3 points per game, which exceeds what the USC defense typically allows (69.2 PPG). That mismatch could give the home side opportunities to exploit. The USC offense puts up 79.4 PPG and faces a Ohio State defense allowing 70.0 PPG. The visitors have the offensive firepower to stay in this one. Home court advantage is worth approximately 3.5 points in NCAAB, and Ohio State will look to leverage their home crowd. Our model sees this as essentially a coin-flip game, projecting just a 2.6-point margin. Expect a tight finish. The 68% confidence interval ranges from Ohio State winning by 15 to losing by 10. Our model aligns closely with the market on this one, suggesting the oddsmakers have priced this game efficiently. Look for small edges in the total and moneyline markets to capitalize on any remaining value.

Ohio State enters at 16-8 (11-3), hovering around the .500 mark. They've shown flashes of strong play but haven't been able to sustain consistency. At home, they'll look to put together a complete performance and build momentum. USC comes in with an impressive 18-7 (9-3) record. They've been among the best teams in their conference and are playing with the confidence of a squad that expects to win. Road games can be tricky, but this team has the poise to handle hostile environments. When these teams meet, the home team typically has the edge given the crowd advantage and familiarity factor. The team that controls tempo and limits turnovers will likely dictate the outcome of this matchup.